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Park News
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Minitalia Leolandia
Kernels
Milan park gets Zamperla treatment
Located not far from Milan’s Bergamo airport, Minitalia Leolandia reproduces in
The Australian city of Brisbane is the latest place to install a giant Ferris Wheel
miniature the coasts of Sicily and Sardinia. This season the park celebrated a new
as a sightseeing attraction. The Wheel of Brisbane is a 60-metre semi-
phase in its development with the addition of 12 rides by Zamperla. The package
permanent construction by Ronald Bussink Professional Rides located at South
of attractions was chosen with the goal of providing family thrills across the board.
Bank Parklands. The wheel is operated by World Tourist Attractions (WTA),
There is a distinctly American Old West feel to new rides including Wild Avvoltoi
which also runs wheels in five British cities, including London, Great Yarmouth,
(Kite Flyer), Town Tower (Mega Jumpin Star) and Carovana Western (Crazy Bus).
Manchester, York and Belfast. WTA has a two-year lease on the site in
Bringing a medieval theme to the park is the Magic Bikes attraction, whose
Brisbane.
interactive nature is in keeping with the Leonardo Da Vinci “edutainment” museum
The Fabbri Group has landed a contract to build an 80-metre Ferris Wheel
nearby. for an as yet unnamed client in the Far East. The ride is due for delivery in April
Three of Zamperla’s larger thrill rides can 2009 and will feature Swiss-designed 8-passenger gondolas fully equipped
be found in the park’s Strabilia area. Popular with air conditioning. “We have been wanting to enter the giant wheel sector
worldwide, the Mega Disk 'O makes its
for some time so we are really pleased with this order,” says Fabbri sales
Italian debut, sending riders along a 40ft-tall
manager Edward Cromheecke.
half pipe as they spin outwards. On the
Twister Coaster, no two rides are ever the
A Florida land developer has purchased Wild West World, Wichita, Kansas,
for US$2.15 million. Although no rides and attractions will be operational until
same as the cars free spin as they travel
next season, the AHG Group does plan to hold concerts in time for Labor Day
along the Wild Mouse-style track. Meanwhile
(September 1). Best known for its work developing American Indian casinos,
the new Cannon Ball Flash Tower (pictured)
AHG bought the park from the US Bankruptcy Court and is now looking for a
blasts riders into the sky and lets them
professional theatre operator to reopen the soon-to-be-renamed Johnny
bounce their way up and down back to the
Western Theatre, plus an amusement operator to take care of the rides.
ground.
Carnival proprietor Jerry Murphy's Tulsa-based Spectacular Attractions is
Completing the new additions is a
believed to be in the running for the latter. Former owner Thomas Etheredge
selection of Zamperla children’s rides, famously closed Wild West World and filed for bankruptcy in July 2007, just 65
including the new Taga J (see Ride Guide, days after the park opened.
page 42).
Early attendance figures for 2008 suggest
Universal Orlando reported a 5% slide in paid theme-park attendance and
numbers are climbing and the leading Italian
a 6% drop in operating revenue during its second quarter, compared with the
manufacturer is now expected to play a
same period last year. The resort's parent company, Universal City
larger role in the park’s growth and
Development Partners, reported that quarterly operating revenue of $244
million was down partly because of the shift of the lucrative Easter holiday
development.
season into the first quarter this year, instead of the second quarter n 2007.
British-based 4D and simulation specialist Simworx has appointed David
Balloon soars over
Sanvoisin as a sales director. Now based at the company’s head office in
Kingswinsford near Birmingham, Sanvoisin previously worked for CMP
English Riviera
International, where he handled sales for the family attractions section of
Leisure Industry Week (LIW).
Kirk Winterroth has joined California’s Garner Holt Productions as a
Lindstrand Technologies has installed a HiFlyer tethered balloon in the project manager. Kirk has over 30 years of international experience in project
popular English seaside resort of Torquay. Soaring to 400ft (120 metres) management and development in theme parks and museums. For 26 years he
above the coast, the attraction gives up to 30 passengers at a time a was at Walt Disney Imagineering where he oversaw projects in Disneyland
breathtaking 15-minute bird’s California, Walt Disney World, EPCOT and Hong Kong Disneyland. His work
eye view over the “English in China gave him invaluable experience working with contractors and vendors
Riveria.” in the field. Meanwhile James Mulder has joined as the company’s technical
The ride operates from 10am design manager. He brings with him more than 20 years of extensive
to 9pm (weather permitting) and experience designing and executing projects for theatrical, theme park, and
has generated a lot of publicity entertainment venues, and also has experience as a Walt Disney Imagineer.
locally, both positive and
negative. Overall, however, the
British park Wicksteed held its first beer festival recently. Taking place for four
reception has been good.
days, July 31 to August 3, the event was run in association with the local
Certificated by Civil Aviation
Potbelly Brewery of Kettering. Over 30 beers and ciders were available to try,
Authority and wheelchair
along with traditional festival food and quality live acts.
accessible, the Lindstrand HiFlyer
Entertainer and amusement park owner Richard Cadell has bought back the
provides a safe and thrilling
rights to the children’s puppet Sooty. Richard and his brother David Cadell,
experience balloon ride
who Brean Leisure Park near Bristol, England, apparently paid a “high six-
experience. The Torquay version
figure sum” to acquire the rights Hit Entertainment. The yellow bear, who turns
is one of three in three now
60 this year, was bought in Blackpool by Harry Corbett in 1944 and went on
operational in the UK, the others
to enjoy a successful career on British TV. Cadell first acquired the rights from
appearing at Leeds Castle in
Harry’s son, Matthew Corbett, before selling them onto Hit Entertainment some
Kent and Bournemouth.
years ago.
18
SEPTEMBER 2008
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